NoneSam Drummey was selected as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Sam, center, is pictured with his parents, , Delilah Poupore and Jonathan Drummey. Contributed / Maine Department of Education Sam Drummey of Thornton Academy in Saco is one of two Maine students who is a delegate for the 63rd annual prestigious United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), according to the Maine Department of Education. On Dec. 2, Drummey and Emmett Appell of Erskine Academy, both seniors, were recognized at their schools for their outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and community involvement. They will represent Maine in Washington, D.C. in March for an immersive week-long program, designed to deepen students’ understanding of the U.S. government and inspire future leaders. Sam serves as the Student Body’s vice president and is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and equal rights. Sam is deeply involved in his community, serving on the city of Biddeford’s Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee and the Biddeford Sustainability Commission. He has earned top academic honors, including awards in Honors Sophomore English, AP Human Geography, Honors Blind Eye of History, and nine other courses. Outside of the classroom, Sam actively volunteers with Maine Youth Action Network, MaineTransNet, and GrowSmart Maine. He is also a member of several school organizations, including the Student Council, Environmental Club, National Honor Society, Model UN, and the Speech Team. Sam’s future career aspirations focus on ensuring equal rights for all, protecting the environment, and working toward a renewable energy transition. His goal is to mitigate the negative impacts of environmental changes on vulnerable populations, while expanding access to vital services like housing and health care. “We are incredibly proud of these outstanding students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication to community service, and a deep commitment to learning,” Beth Lambert, chief teaching and learning officer for the Maine Department of Education, said. “Both Sam and Emmett embody the values of the United States Senate Youth Program, and we are confident that they will bring their passion for public service and civic engagement to Washington, D.C., as they represent Maine at the national level.” Members of both US. Senator Susan Collins’ office and U.S. Senator Angus King’s office, as well as representatives from the Maine Secretary of State’s office, were present during the announcement, underscoring the importance of fostering civic engagement and leadership in Maine’s young people. The USSYP, established by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962, offers a unique opportunity for young leaders to gain a deeper understanding of the federal government and meet with U.S. senators, government officials, and political leaders. In addition to the immersive experience, each delegate will receive a $10,000 college scholarship. For more information about the United States Senate Youth Program, visit the website maine.gov/doe/learning/content/social/USSYP . Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
Advertisement Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt said AI could shape a child's identity and culture. Schmidt said a child's best friend could be "not human" in the future. Schmidt said global tech leaders should establish AI safety standards. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says AI will change how children learn and could shape their culture and worldview. Schmidt spoke at Princeton University — his alma mater — this week to promote his forthcoming book, "Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit." Schmidt co-authored the book with Craig Mundie, former Microsoft CTO and OpenAI advisor, and the late American diplomat Henry Kissinger. Advertisement Schmidt said during the talk that he thinks most people aren't ready for the technological advancements AI could bring. "I can assure you that the humans in the rest of the world, all the normal people — because you all are not normal, sorry to say, you're special in some way — the normal people are not ready," Schmidt told the Princeton crowd. "Their governments are not ready. The government processes are not ready. The doctrines are not ready. They're not ready for the arrival of this." Schmidt has advised the US government and military on technology for years. In 2016, he chaired the Defense Innovation Board, which advises the Defense Department, and chaired the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence in 2018. Advertisement More recently, he founded White Stork, a startup that builds AI attack drones . At Stanford University in April, Schmidt said the Ukraine War had turned him into an arms dealer. His vision — and concern — for AI, however, extends beyond the battlefield. He said, for example, that a child's best friend could be "not human" in the future, which could present problems. "What are the rules?" he asked. "Is it OK that ... it's the equivalent of Mark Zuckerberg as just the surrogate parent who gets to decide what your kid learns and doesn't learn." Advertisement Schmidt said that's why the world should design safety requirements for AI. "Playing with the way people think is really powerful," he said. "If you think about state-sponsored misinformation, that's trivial compared to having your best friend be state-sponsored, and they sort of have daily interaction and shape someone's identity, their cultural values." He added: "In the case where AI is built by one country, hopefully the US, what happens to all the other cultures? Do we just roll through them?" Advertisement He said humanity's transition to AI will be rocky and that much remains to be seen about how humans will integrate with the technology. One audience member asked if most people will use a personal AI for "videos that make them laugh" or for "information that's only going to confirm their biases." "One of the things that's worth saying is that none of us thought, when we invented social media, that we would become a threat to democracy," he responded. "That wasn't on the list of attributes. And these are the unintended effects of technologies that touch humans."
The collision between art and reality is a recurring theme in Cai Guo-Qiang's work, as he bridges the gap between the ethereal realm of artistic creation and the concrete constraints of the physical world. By embracing regret as an integral part of the human experience, Cai Guo-Qiang challenges viewers to confront their own regrets and reconsider the significance of these emotions in shaping our lives.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop in 2023. A report released Wednesday marked the conclusion of the investigation that began six months after Nichols was kicked, punched and hit with a police baton as five officers tried to arrest him after he fled a traffic stop. Recommended Videos The report says that “Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of the people they are sworn to serve.” "The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in an emailed statement. The city said in a letter released earlier Wednesday that it would not agree to negotiate federal oversight of its police department until it could review and challenge results of the investigation. In the letter to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Memphis City Attorney Tannera George Gibson said the city has received a request from the DOJ to enter into an agreement that would require it to “negotiate a consent decree aimed at institutional police and emergency services.” The Justice Department announced an investigation into the Memphis Police Department in July 2023, looking at the department’s “pattern or practice” of how it uses force and conducts stops, searches and arrests, and whether it engages in discriminatory policing. The investigation was announced six months after the January 2023 beating death of Nichols by police. A consent decree is an agreement requiring reforms that are overseen by an independent monitor and are approved by a federal judge. The federal oversight can continue for years, and violations could result in fines paid by the city. It remains to be seen what will happen to attempts to reach such agreements between cities and the Justice Department once President-elect Donald Trump returns to office and installs new department leadership. The Justice Department under the first Trump administration curtailed the use of consent decrees, and the Republican president-elect is expected to again radically reshape the department’s priorities around civil rights. The city’s letter said “a legal finding supporting the contention that the City’s patterns and practices violate the Constitution requires a legal process,” which includes the city's ability to challenge the DOJ's methods of evaluating information and the credibility of witnesses. “Until the City has had the opportunity to review, analyze, and challenge the specific allegations that support your forthcoming findings report, the City cannot — and will not — agree to work toward or enter into a consent decree that will likely be in place for years to come and will cost the residents of Memphis hundreds of millions of dollars,” the letter said. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter. Police video showed officers pepper spraying Nichols and hitting him with a Taser before he ran away from a traffic stop. Five officers chased down Nichols and kicked, punched and hit him with a police baton just steps from his home as he called out for his mother. The video showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries. Nichols died on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the beating. The five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — were fired, charged in state court with murder, and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges. Nichols was Black, as are the former officers. His death led to national protests, raised the volume on calls for police reforms in the U.S., and directed intense scrutiny towards the Memphis Police Department. The officers were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, which was disbanded after Nichols’ death. The team targeted drugs, illegal guns and violent offenders, with the goal of amassing arrest numbers, while sometimes using force against unarmed people. Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to the federal charges under deals with prosecutors. The other three officers were convicted in early October of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges of using excessive force and being indifferent to Nichols’ serious injuries. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but he was convicted of two lesser charges of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. The five men face sentencing by a federal judge in the coming months. Martin and Mills also are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case. Bean, Haley and Smith have also pleaded not guilty to state charges of second-degree murder. A trial in the state case has been set for April 28. Justice Department investigators have targeted other cities with similar probes in recent years. On Nov. 21, the department said police in New Jersey’s capital of Trenton have shown a pattern of misconduct, including using excessive force and making unlawful stops. The DOJ’s report documented arrests without legal basis, officers escalating situations with aggression and unnecessary use of pepper spray. In June 2023, another Justice Department probe alleged that Minneapolis police systematically discriminated against racial minorities, violated constitutional rights and disregarded the safety of people in custody for years before George Floyd was killed. In March 2023, the department found police in Louisville, Kentucky, engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community following an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor . In its letter, the city of Memphis said the DOJ's investigation “only took 17 months to complete, compared to an average of 2-3 years in almost every other instance, implying a rush to judgment.” —- Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.2. Using gas stoves or ovens for heating: Some people may resort to using gas stoves or ovens as a source of heat during the winter. This can be extremely dangerous as these appliances are not designed for heating large spaces and can produce high levels of carbon monoxide when used in this manner. Avoid using gas stoves or ovens for anything other than cooking food.
Bars close as huge pipe burst in Manchester hits water supplies across the city centreLAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Thomas Brown insists he's focused on the job at hand and not the one he might have down the line. His immediate task as the interim coach of the Chicago Bears is helping the team finish strong over the final five games, starting this weekend at San Francisco. The rest of his life can wait. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest sports news delivered right to your inbox six days a week.
Mind the Gap: Six Tips to Assess Your Healthcare Coverage Before the New YearIn recent weeks, global oil prices have been on a downward trend, leading to speculation that December oil prices could hit a new low and potentially decrease even further. This news comes as a relief to consumers and businesses alike, many of whom have been struggling with high fuel costs throughout the year.
Mind the Gap: Six Tips to Assess Your Healthcare Coverage Before the New Year
US sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. Jackson breaks Vick's NFL rushing record for QBs in Ravens' rout over Texans HOUSTON (AP) — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most yards rushing by a quarterback in NFL history in a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans in Wednesday. Jackson moved past Vick on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Jackson had 87 yards rushing to give him 6,110 yards, moving him past Vick, who piled up 6,109 in his 13-year career.The recent incident of a middle-aged woman setting fire to a mountain while collecting plastic bottles has sparked heated discussions and debates across the country. The act, which has been dubbed as "Incinerating Mountain to Pick Bottles," has raised concerns about environmental awareness and the consequences of individual actions on the natural world.
